5-phenyl-substituted N-(tetrazol-5-yl) aryl carboxylic acid amides and N-(triazol-5-yl) aryl carboxylic acid amides, and use thereof as herbicides

ABSTRACT

5-phenyl-substituted N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and N-(triazol-5-yl)arylcarboxamides of the general formula (I) are described as herbicides. 
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     In this formula (I), W, X, Y, Z and R are radicals such as hydrogen, organic radicals such as alkyl, and other radicals such as halogen. A and B are N and CY.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a §371 National Stage Application of PCT/EP2012/071378, filed Oct. 29, 2012, which claims priority to EP 11187669.4, filed Nov. 3, 2011.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the technical field of herbicides, especially that of herbicides for selective control of broad-leaved weeds and weed grasses in crops of useful plants.

2. Description of Related Art

WO2003010143 and WO2003010153 disclose particular N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and N-(triazol-5-yl)benzamides and the pharmacological action thereof. EP 0 049 071 A1 discloses herbicidally active N-arylbenzamides. Specifically, this publication mentions the compounds N-[5-(1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl]-2,6-dimethoxybenzamide (Example No. 118) and N-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)-2,6-dimethoxybenzamide (Example No. 119). However, these compounds have insufficient herbicidal activity. In particular at low application rates, the herbicidal activity of the compounds known from EP 0 049 071 A1 is unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to provide compounds having good activity against harmful plants even at low application rates.

It has now been found that N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and N-(triazol-5-)arylcarboxamides carrying certain substituents in the 5-position of the phenyl ring are particularly suitable as herbicides.

The present invention thus provides 5-phenyl-substituted N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and N-(triazol-5-yl)arylcarboxamides of the formula (I) or salts thereof

in which A is N or CY, B is N or CH, X is nitro, halogen, cyano, formyl, thiocyanato, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, COR¹, COOR¹, OCOOR¹, NR¹COOR¹, C(O)N(R¹)₂, NR¹C(O)N(R¹)₂, OC(O)N(R¹)₂, C(O)NR¹OR¹, OR¹, OCOR¹, OSO₂R², S(O)_(n)R², SO₂OR¹, SO₂N(R¹)₂, NR¹SO₂R², NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OCOR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OSO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CO₂R¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CON(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹SO₂R², NR₁R₂, P(O)(OR⁵)₂, CH₂P(O)(OR⁵)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheterocyclyl, where the two last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy and halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, Y is hydrogen, nitro, halogen, cyano, thiocyanato, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkenyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, COR¹, COOR¹, OCOOR¹, NR¹COOR¹, C(O)N(R¹)₂, NR¹C(O)N(R¹)₂, OC(O)N(R¹)₂, CO(NOR¹)R¹, NR¹SO₂R², NR¹COR¹, OR¹, OSO₂R², S(O)_(n)R², SO₂OR¹, SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OCOR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OSO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CO₂R¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CN, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CON(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹SO₂R², N(R¹)₂, P(O)(OR⁵)₂, CH₂P(O)(OR⁵)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkylphenyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheterocyclyl, phenyl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl, where the 6 last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl and cyanomethyl, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, Z is halogen, cyano, thiocyanato, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, COR¹, COOR¹, OCOOR¹, NR¹COOR¹, C(O)N(R¹)₂, NR¹C(O)N(R¹)₂, OC(O)N(R¹)₂, C(O)NR¹OR¹, OSO₂R², S(O)_(n)R², SO₂OR¹, SO₂N(R¹)₂, NR¹SO₂R², NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OCOR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OSO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CO₂R¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CON(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹SO₂R², N(R¹)₂, P(O)(OR⁵)₂, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or phenyl, where the three last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy and halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, or Z may also be hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl or (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy if Y is the radical S(O)_(n)R², W is (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₇)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₇)-halocycloalkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)-haloalkoxy, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-haloalkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-haloalkyl, halogen, nitro, NR³COR³ or cyano, R is (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₈)-alkyl, (C₂-C₈)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₈)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₈)-alkynyl, halo-(C₂-C₈)-alkynyl, where these six above-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of hydroxy, nitro, cyano, SiR⁵ ₃, PO(OR⁵)₂, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-haloalkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, N(R³)₂, COR³, COOR³, OCOR³, NR³COR³, NR³SO₂R⁴, O(C₁-C₂)-alkyl-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, phenyl, Q-heteroaryl, Q-heterocyclyl, Q-phenyl and Q-benzyl, where the seven last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano and halogen, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, or R is (C₃-C₇)-cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or phenyl, each of which is substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy and (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl, where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, Q is O, S or NR³, R¹ is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-haloalkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-haloalkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₂-C₆)-haloalkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkenyl, (C₃-C₆)-halocycloalkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heteroaryl or (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heterocyclyl, where the 21 last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of cyano, halogen, nitro, thiocyanato, OR³, S(O)_(n)R⁴, N(R³)₂, NR³OR³, COR³, OCOR³, SCOR⁴, NR³COR³, NR³SO₂R⁴, CO₂R³, COSR⁴, CON(R³)₂ and (C₁-C₄)-alkoxy-(C₂-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, R² is (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-haloalkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-haloalkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₂-C₆)-haloalkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkenyl, (C₃-C₆)-halocycloalkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heteroaryl or (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heterocyclyl, where the 21 last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of cyano, halogen, nitro, thiocyanato, OR³, S(O)_(n)R⁴, N(R³)₂, NR³OR³, COR³, OCOR³, SCOR⁴, NR³COR³, NR³SO₂R⁴, CO₂R³, COSR⁴, CON(R³)₂ and (C₁-C₄)-alkoxy-(C₂-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, R³ is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl or phenyl, R⁴ is (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl or phenyl, R⁵ is (C₁-C₄)-alkyl, n is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2 or 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the formula (I) and all the formulae which follow, alkyl radicals having more than two carbon atoms may be straight-chain or branched. Alkyl radicals are, for example, methyl, ethyl, n- or isopropyl, n-, iso-, tert- or 2-butyl, pentyls, hexyls such as n-hexyl, isohexyl and 1,3-dimethylbutyl. Analogously, alkenyl is, for example, allyl, 1-methylprop-2-en-1-yl, 2-methylprop-2-en-1-yl, but-2-en-1-yl, but-3-en-1-yl, 1-methylbut-3-en-1-yl and 1-methylbut-2-en-1-yl. Alkynyl is, for example, propargyl, but-2-yn-1-yl, but-3-yn-1-yl, 1-methylbut-3-yn-1-yl. The multiple bond may be in any position of the unsaturated radical. Cycloalkyl is a carbocyclic saturated ring system having three to six carbon atoms, for example cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl. Analogously, cycloalkenyl is a monocyclic alkenyl group having three to six carbon ring members, for example cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl, cyclopentenyl and cyclohexenyl, where the double bond may be in any position.

Halogen is fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.

Heterocyclyl is a saturated, semisaturated or fully unsaturated cyclic radical containing 3 to 6 ring atoms, of which 1 to 4 are from the group of oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, and which may additionally be fused by a benzo ring. For example, heterocyclyl is piperidinyl, pyrrolidinyl, tetrahydrofuranyl, dihydrofuranyl and oxetanyl,

Heteroaryl is an aromatic cyclic radical containing 3 to 6 ring atoms, of which 1 to 4 are from the group of oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur, and which may additionally be fused by a benzo ring. For example, heteroaryl is benzimidazol-2-yl, furanyl, imidazolyl, isoxazolyl, isothiazolyl, oxazolyl, pyrazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pyridazinyl, pyridinyl, benzisoxazolyl, thiazolyl, pyrrolyl, pyrazolyl, thiophenyl, 1,2,3-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,5-oxadiazolyl, 1,3,4-oxadiazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,2,3-triazolyl, 1,2,5-triazolyl, 1,3,4-triazolyl, 1,2,4-triazolyl, 1,2,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,3,4-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,3-thiadiazolyl, 1,2,5-thiadiazolyl, 2H-1,2,3,4-tetrazolyl, 1H-1,2,3,4-tetrazolyl, 1,2,3,4-oxatriazolyl, 1,2,3,5-oxatriazolyl, 1,2,3,4-thiatriazolyl and 1,2,3,5-thiatriazolyl.

Where a group is substituted by a plurality of radicals, this means that this group is substituted by one or more identical or different representatives of the radicals mentioned. This applies analogously to the construction of ring systems from various atoms and elements. Here, compounds known to the person skilled in the art to be chemically unstable under standard conditions are meant to be excluded from the scope of the claims.

Depending on the nature and the attachment of the substituents, the compounds of the general formula (I) may be present as stereoisomers. When, for example, one or more asymmetric carbon atoms are present, enantiomers and diastereomers may occur. Stereoisomers likewise occur when n is 1 (sulfoxides). Stereoisomers can be obtained from the mixtures obtained in the preparation by customary separation methods, for example by chromatographic separation processes. It is equally possible to selectively prepare stereoisomers by using stereoselective reactions using optically active starting materials and/or auxiliaries. The invention also relates to all stereoisomers and mixtures thereof which are encompassed by the general formula (I) but not defined specifically. Owing to the oxime ether structure, the compounds according to the invention may also be present as geometric isomers (EZ isomers). The invention also relates to all EZ isomers and mixtures thereof which are encompassed by the general formula (I) but not defined specifically.

The compounds of the formula (I) may form salts. Salts can be formed by the action of a base on those compounds of the formula (I) which bear an acidic hydrogen atom, for example in the case that R¹ contains a COOH group or a sulfonamide group —NHSO₂—. Suitable bases are, for example, organic amines such as trialkylamines, morpholine, piperidine or pyridine, and also ammonium, alkali metal or alkaline earth metal hydroxides, carbonates and hydrogencarbonates, especially sodium and potassium hydroxide, sodium and potassium carbonate and sodium and potassium hydrogencarbonate. These salts are compounds in which the acidic hydrogen is replaced by an agriculturally suitable cation, for example metal salts, especially alkali metal salts or alkaline earth metal salts, especially sodium and potassium salts, or else ammonium salts, salts with organic amines or quaternary ammonium salts, for example with cations of the formula [NRR′R″R′″]⁺ in which R to R′″ are each independently of one another an organic radical, especially alkyl, aryl, aralkyl or alkylaryl. Also useful are alkylsulfonium and alkylsulfoxonium salts, such as (C₁-C₄)-trialkylsulfonium and (C₁-C₄)-trialkylsulfoxonium salts.

The compounds of the formula (I) can form salts by addition of a suitable inorganic or organic acid, for example mineral acids, for example HCl, HBr, H₂SO₄, H₃PO₄ or HNO₃, or organic acids, for example carboxylic acids such as formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, oxalic acid, lactic acid or salicylic acid, or sulfonic acids, for example p-toluenesulfonic acid, onto a basic group, for example amino, alkylamino, dialkylamino, piperidino, morpholino or pyridino. These salts then contain the conjugate base of the acid as the anion.

Preference is given to compounds of the general formula (I) in which

A is N or CY,

B is N or CH,

X is nitro, halogen, cyano, thiocyanato, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, COR¹, OR¹, OCOR¹, OSO₂R², S(O)_(n)R², SO₂OR¹, SO₂N(R¹)₂, NR¹SO₂R², NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OCOR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OSO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CO₂R¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CON(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹COR¹ or (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹SO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-heterocyclyl, where the two last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy and halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy radicals, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, Y is hydrogen, nitro, halogen, cyano, thiocyanato, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkenyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, COR¹, OR¹, COOR¹, OSO₂R², S(O)_(n)R², SO₂OR¹, SO₂N(R¹)₂, N(R¹)₂, NR¹SO₂R², NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OCOR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OSO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CO₂R¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CON(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹SO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-phenyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-heterocyclyl, phenyl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl, where the six last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl and cyanomethyl, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, Z is halogen, cyano, thiocyanato, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, COR¹, COOR¹, C(O)N(R¹)₂, C(O)NR¹OR¹, OSO₂R², S(O)_(n)R², SO₂OR¹, SO₂N(R¹)₂, NR¹SO₂R², NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OCOR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OSO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CO₂R¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CON(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹SO₂R² or 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl, or Z may also be hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl or (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy if Y is the radical S(O)_(n)R², W is (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)-haloalkoxy, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-haloalkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl, halogen, nitro or cyano, R is (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₈)-alkyl, (C₂-C₈)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₈)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₈)-alkynyl, halo-(C₂-C₈)-alkynyl, where these six above-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of nitro, cyano, SiR⁵ ₃, P(OR⁵)₃, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, N(R³)₂, COR³, COOR³, OCOR³, NR³COR³, NR³SO₂R⁴, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl, phenyl, Q-heteroaryl, Q-heterocyclyl, Q-phenyl and Q-benzyl, where the seven last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano and halogen, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, or R is (C₃-C₇)-cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl or phenyl, each of which is substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy and (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl, Q is O, S or NR³, R¹ is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heteroaryl or (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heterocyclyl, where the sixteen last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of cyano, halogen, nitro, OR³, S(O)_(n)R⁴, N(R³)₂, NR³OR³, COR³, OCOR³, NR³COR³, NR³SO₂R⁴, CO₂R³, CON(R³)₂ and (C₁-C₄)-alkoxy-(C₂-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, R² is (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heteroaryl or (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heterocyclyl, where these sixteen last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of cyano, halogen, nitro, OR³, S(O)_(n)R⁴, N(R³)₂, NR³OR³, NR³SO₂R⁴, COR³, OCOR³, NR³COR³, CO₂R³, CON(R³)₂ and (C₁-C₄)-alkoxy-(C₂-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, R³ is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl or (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, R⁴ is (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl or (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, R⁵ is methyl or ethyl, n is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2 or 3.

Particular preference is given to compounds of the general formula (I) in which

A is N or CY,

B is N or CH,

X is nitro, halogen, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, OR¹, S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CON(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹SO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheterocyclyl, where the two last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals halogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy and halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy radicals, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, Y is hydrogen, nitro, halogen, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-haloalkyl, OR¹, S(O)_(n)R², SO₂N(R¹)₂, N(R¹)₂, NR¹SO₂R², NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-S(O)_(n)R², (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-OR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-CON(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-SO₂N(R¹)₂, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹COR¹, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR¹SO₂R², (C₁-C₆)-alkylphenyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheterocyclyl, phenyl, heteroaryl or heterocyclyl, where the 6 last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl and cyanomethyl, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, Z is halogen, cyano, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, S(O)_(n)R², 1,2,4-triazol-1-yl, or Z may also be hydrogen, methyl, methoxy or ethoxy if Y is the S(O)_(n)R² radical, W is methyl, ethyl, methoxymethyl, methoxy, fluorine, chlorine or S(O)_(n)CH₃, R is (C₁-C₈)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₈)-alkyl, (C₂-C₈)-alkenyl, halo-(C₂-C₈)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₈)-alkynyl, halo-(C₂-C₈)-alkynyl, where these six above-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of cyano, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, COR³, COOR³, OCOR³, NR³COR³, NR³SO₂R⁴, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, heteroaryl, heterocyclyl and phenyl, where the three last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of methyl, ethyl, methoxy, trifluoromethyl, cyano and halogen, and where heterocyclyl carries 0 to 2 oxo groups, or R is phenyl which is substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen, nitro, cyano, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, S(O)_(n)—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy, halo-(C₁-C₆)-alkoxy and (C₁-C₆)-alkoxy-(C₁-C₄)-alkyl, R¹ is hydrogen, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkenyl, (C₂-C₆)-alkynyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O—(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, phenyl, phenyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheteroaryl, heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkylheterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heteroaryl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-O-heterocyclyl, (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heteroaryl or (C₁-C₆)-alkyl-NR³-heterocyclyl, where the sixteen last-mentioned radicals are each substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of cyano, halogen, nitro, OR³, S(O)_(n)R⁴, N(R³)₂, NR³OR³, COR³, OCOR³, NR³COR³, NR³SO₂R⁴, CO₂R³, CON(R³)₂ and (C₁-C₄)-alkoxy-(C₂-C₆)-alkoxycarbonyl, and where heterocyclyl carries n oxo groups, R² is (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl or (C₃-C₆)-cycloalkyl-(C₁-C₆)-alkyl, each of which is substituted by s radicals from the group consisting of halogen and OR³, R³ is hydrogen or (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, R⁴ is (C₁-C₆)-alkyl, R⁵ is methyl or ethyl, n is 0, 1 or 2; s is 0, 1, 2 or 3.

In all the formulae specified hereinafter, the substituents and symbols have the same meaning as in formula (I), unless defined differently.

Compounds according to the invention can also be prepared, for example, by the method shown in scheme 1, by base-catalyzed reaction of a pyridinecarbonyl chloride (II) with a 5-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole or 5-amino-1H-tetrazole (III):

The benzoyl chlorides of the formula (II) or their parent benzoic acids are known in principle and can be prepared, for example, by the methods described in JP 63122673, WO 9954328 A1 and WO 9746530 A1.

Compounds according to the invention can also be prepared by the method described in scheme 2, by reacting a benzoic acid of the formula (IV) with a 5-amino-1H-1,2,4-triazole or 5-amino-1H-tetrazole (III):

For the activation, it is possible to use dehydrating reagents which are typically used for amidation reactions, for example 1,1′-carbonyldiimidazole (CD), dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC), 2,4,6-tripropyl-1,3,5,2,4,6-trioxatriphosphinane 2,4,6-trioxide (T3P) etc.

Compounds according to the invention can also be prepared by the method shown in scheme 3, by reaction of an N-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)benzamide, N-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)benzamide, N-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-5-yl)nicotinamide or N-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl)nicotinamide:

For this reaction shown in scheme 3, it is possible, for example, to use alkylating agents, for example alkyl halides or sulfonate or dialkyl sulfates, in the presence of a base.

It may be expedient to change the order of reaction steps. Thus, benzoic acids carrying a sulfoxide cannot be converted directly into their acid chlorides. Here, it is advisable to prepare initially, at the thioether stage, the amide and then to oxidize the thioether to the sulfoxide.

The 5-amino-1H-tetrazoles of the formula (III) are either commercially available or can be prepared analogously to methods known from the literature. For example, 5-amino-1-R-tetrazoles can be prepared from aminotetrazole by the method described in Journal of the American Chemical Society (1954), 76, 923-924:

In the abovementioned formula, R is, for example, an alkyl radical.

5-Amino-1-R-tetrazoles can be synthesized, for example, as described in Journal of the American Chemical Society (1954) 76, 88-89:

The 5-amino-1H-triazoles of the formula (III) are either commercially available or can be prepared analogously to methods known from the literature. For example, 5-amino-1-R-triazoles can be prepared from aminotriazole by the method described in Zeitschrift füer Chemie (1990), 30(12), 436-437:

5-Amino-1-R-triazoles can also be synthesized, for example, as described in Chemische Berichte (1964), 97(2), 396-404:

5-Amino-1-R-triazoles can also be synthesized, for example, as described in Angewandte Chemie (1963), 75, 918:

Collections of compounds of the formula (I) and/or salts thereof which can be synthesized by the abovementioned reactions can also be prepared in a parallelized manner, in which case this may be accomplished in a manual, partly automated or fully automated manner. It is possible, for example, to automate the conduct of the reaction, the work-up or the purification of the products and/or intermediates. Overall, this is understood to mean a procedure as described, for example, by D. Tiebes in Combinatorial Chemistry—Synthesis, Analysis, Screening (editor: Günther Jung), Wiley, 1999, on pages 1 to 34.

For the parallelized conduct of the reaction and workup, it is possible to use a number of commercially available instruments, for example Calypso reaction blocks from Barnstead International, Dubuque, Iowa 52004-0797, USA or reaction stations from Radleys, Shirehill, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 3AZ, England, or MultiPROBE Automated Workstations from PerkinElmer, Waltham, Mass. 02451, USA. For the parallelized purification of compounds of the general formula (I) and salts thereof or of intermediates which occur in the course of preparation, available apparatuses include chromatography apparatuses, for example from ISCO, Inc., 4700 Superior Street, Lincoln, Nebr. 68504, USA.

The apparatuses detailed lead to a modular procedure in which the individual working steps are automated, but manual operations have to be carried out between the working steps. This can be circumvented by using partly or fully integrated automation systems in which the respective automation modules are operated, for example, by robots. Automation systems of this type can be purchased, for example, from Caliper, Hopkinton, Mass. 01748, USA.

The implementation of single or multiple synthesis steps can be supported by the use of polymer-supported reagents/scavenger resins. The specialist literature describes a series of experimental protocols, for example in ChemFiles, Vol. 4, No. 1, Polymer-Supported Scavengers and Reagents for Solution-Phase Synthesis (Sigma-Aldrich).

Aside from the methods described here, the compounds of the general formula (I) and salts thereof can be prepared completely or partially by solid-phase supported methods. For this purpose, individual intermediates or all intermediates in the synthesis or a synthesis adapted for the corresponding procedure are bound to a synthesis resin. Solid phase-supported synthesis methods are described adequately in the technical literature, for example Barry A. Bunin in “The Combinatorial Index”, Academic Press, 1998 and Combinatorial Chemistry—Synthesis, Analysis, Screening (editor: Günther Jung), Wiley, 1999. The use of solid-phase-supported synthesis methods permits a number of protocols, which are known from the literature and which for their part may be performed manually or in an automated manner, to be carried out. The reactions can be performed, for example, by means of IRORI technology in microreactors from Nexus Biosystems, 12140 Community Road, Poway, Calif. 92064, USA.

Both on a solid phase and in liquid phase can the procedure of individual or several synthesis steps be supported through the use of microwave technology. The specialist literature describes a series of experimental protocols, for example in Microwaves in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry (editor C. O. Kappe and A. Stadler), Wiley, 2005.

The preparation by the processes described here gives compounds of the formula (I) and salts thereof in the form of substance collections, which are called libraries. The present invention also provides libraries comprising at least two compounds of the formula (I) and salts thereof.

The compounds of the formula (I) according to the invention (and/or their salts), hereinbelow collectively referred to as “compounds according to the invention”, have excellent herbicidal efficacy against a broad spectrum of economically important monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous annual harmful plants. The active compounds act efficiently even on perennial harmful plants which produce shoots from rhizomes, root stocks and other perennial organs and which are difficult to control.

The present invention therefore also relates to a method for controlling unwanted plants or for regulating the growth of plants, preferably in crops of plants, where one or more compound(s) according to the invention is/are applied to the plants (for example harmful plants such as monocotyledonous or dicotyledonous weeds or undesired crop plants), to the seeds (for example grains, seeds or vegetative propagules such as tubers or shoot parts with buds) or to the area on which the plants grow (for example the area under cultivation). The compounds according to the invention can be deployed, for example, prior to sowing (if appropriate also by incorporation into the soil), prior to emergence or after emergence. Specific examples of some representatives of the monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed flora which can be controlled by the compounds according to the invention are as follows, though the enumeration is not intended to impose a restriction to particular species:

Monocotyledonous harmful plants of the genera: Aegilops, Agropyron, Agrostis, Alopecurus, Apera, Avena, Brachiaria, Bromus, Cenchrus, Commelina, Cynodon, Cyperus, Dactyloctenium, Digitaria, Echinochloa, Eleocharis, Eleusine, Eragrostis, Eriochloa, Festuca, Fimbristylis, Heteranthera, Imperata, Ischaemum, Leptochloa, Lolium, Monochoria, Panicum, Paspalum, Phalaris, Phleum, Poa, Rottboellia, Sagittaria, Scirpus, Setaria, Sorghum.

Dicotyledonous weeds of the genera: Abutilon, Amaranthus, Ambrosia, Anoda, Anthemis, Aphanes, Artemisia, Atriplex, Bellis, Bidens, Capsella, Carduus, Cassia, Centaurea, Chenopodium, Cirsium, Convolvulus, Datura, Desmodium, Emex, Erysimum, Euphorbia, Galeopsis, Galinsoga, Galium, Hibiscus, Ipomoea, Kochia, Lamium, Lepidium, Lindernia, Matricaria, Mentha, Mercurialis, Mullugo, Myosotis, Papaver, Pharbitis, Plantago, Polygonum, Portulaca, Ranunculus, Raphanus, Rorippa, Rotala, Rumex, Salsola, Senecio, Sesbania, Sida, Sinapis, Solanum, Sonchus, Sphenoclea, Stellaria, Taraxacum, Thlaspi, Trifolium, Urtica, Veronica, Viola, Xanthium.

When the compounds according to the invention are applied to the soil surface before germination, either the weed seedlings are prevented completely from emerging or the weeds grow until they have reached the cotyledon stage, but then stop growing and eventually, after three to four weeks have elapsed, die completely.

If the active compounds are applied post-emergence to the green parts of the plants, growth stops after the treatment, and the harmful plants remain at the growth stage of the time of application, or die completely after a certain time, such that competition by the weeds, which is harmful to the crop plants, is thus eliminated very early and in a lasting manner.

Although the compounds according to the invention display an outstanding herbicidal activity against monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weeds, crop plants of economically important crops, for example dicotyledonous crops of the genera Arachis, Beta, Brassica, Cucumis, Cucurbita, Helianthus, Daucus, Glycine, Gossypium, Ipomoea, Lactuca, Linum, Lycopersicon, Nicotiana, Phaseolus, Pisum, Solanum, Vicia, or monocotyledonous crops of the genera Allium, Ananas, Asparagus, Avena, Hordeum, Oryza, Panicum, Saccharum, Secale, Sorghum, Triticale, Triticum, Zea, in particular Zea and Triticum, are damaged only to an insignificant extent, or not at all, depending on the structure of the respective compound according to the invention and its application rate. This is why the present compounds are highly suitable for the selective control of unwanted plant growth in plant crops such as agriculturally useful plants or ornamentals.

In addition, the compounds according to the invention (depending on their particular structure and the application rate deployed) have outstanding growth-regulating properties in crop plants. They engage in the plant's metabolism in a regulatory fashion and can therefore be employed for the influencing, in a targeted manner, of plant constituents and for facilitating harvesting, such as, for example, by triggering desiccation and stunted growth. Moreover, they are also suitable for generally controlling and inhibiting unwanted vegetative growth without destroying the plants in the process. Inhibiting vegetative growth plays a major role for many monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous crops, since, for example, this can reduce or completely prevent lodging.

By virtue of their herbicidal and plant growth-regulating properties, the active compounds can also be used for control of harmful plants in crops of genetically modified plants or plants modified by conventional mutagenesis. In general, the transgenic plants are distinguished by especially advantageous properties, for example by resistances to certain pesticides, mainly certain herbicides, resistances to plant diseases or causative organisms of plant diseases, such as certain insects or microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria or viruses. Other particular properties relate, for example, to the harvested material with regard to quantity, quality, storability, composition and specific constituents. For instance, there are known transgenic plants with an elevated starch content or altered starch quality, or with a different fatty acid composition in the harvested material.

It is preferred, with respect to transgenic crops, to use the compounds according to the invention in economically important transgenic crops of useful plants and ornamentals, for example of cereals such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, millet/sorghum, rice and corn or else crops of sugar beet, cotton, soybean, oilseed rape, potato, tomato, peas and other vegetables. It is preferred to employ the compounds according to the invention as herbicides in crops of useful plants which are resistant, or have been made resistant by recombinant means, to the phytotoxic effects of the herbicides.

Preference is given to the use of the compounds according to the invention or salts thereof in economically important transgenic crops of useful plants and ornamentals, for example of cereals such as wheat, barley, rye, oats, millet/sorghum, rice, cassava and corn, or else crops of sugar beet, cotton, soybean, oilseed rape, potato, tomato, peas and other vegetables. Preferably, the compounds according to the invention can be used as herbicides in crops of useful plants which are resistant, or have been made resistant by recombinant means, to the phytotoxic effects of the herbicides.

Conventional methods of generating novel plants which have modified properties in comparison to plants occurring to date consist, for example, in traditional breeding methods and the generation of mutants. Alternatively, novel plants with modified properties can be generated with the aid of recombinant methods (see, for example, EP-A-0221044, EP-A-0131624). For example, there have been many descriptions of:

-   -   recombinant modifications of crop plants for the purpose of         modifying the starch synthesized in the plants (e.g. WO         92/11376, WO 92/14827, WO 91/19806),     -   transgenic crop plants which are resistant to particular         herbicides of the glufosinate type (cf., for example,         EP-A-0242236, EP-A-242246) or glyphosate type     -   (WO 9200377) or of the sulfonylurea type (EP-A-0257993, U.S.         Pat. No. 5,013,659), transgenic crop plants, for example cotton,         with the ability to produce Bacillus thuringiensis toxins (Bt         toxins) which make the plants resistant to particular pests         (EP-A-0142924, EP-A-0193259),     -   transgenic crop plants with a modified fatty acid composition         (WO 91/13972),     -   genetically modified crop plants with novel constituents or         secondary metabolites, for example novel phytoalexins, which         bring about an increased disease resistance (EPA 309862,         EPA0464461),     -   genetically modified plants with reduced photorespiration which         feature higher yields and higher stress tolerance (EPA 0305398),     -   transgenic crop plants which produce pharmaceutically or         diagnostically important proteins (“molecular pharming”),     -   transgenic crop plants which are distinguished by higher yields         or better quality,     -   transgenic crop plants which are distinguished by a combination,         for example of the abovementioned novel properties (“gene         stacking”).

A large number of molecular-biological techniques by means of which novel transgenic plants with modified properties can be generated are known in principle; see, for example, I. Potrykus and G. Spangenberg (eds.) Gene Transfer to Plants, Springer Lab Manual (1995), Springer Verlag Berlin, Heidelberg, or Christou, “Trends in Plant Science” 1 (1996) 423-431.

To carry out such recombinant manipulations, nucleic acid molecules which allow mutagenesis or a sequence change by recombination of DNA sequences can be introduced into plasmids. With the aid of standard methods, it is possible, for example, to undertake base exchanges, remove parts of sequences or add natural or synthetic sequences. For the joining of the DNA fragments to one another, adaptors or linkers can be attached to the fragments; see, for example, Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, 2nd ed. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.; or Winnacker “Gene and Klone” [Genes and Clones], VCH Weinheim 2nd edition 1996.

The production of plant cells with a reduced activity of a gene product can be achieved, for example, by the expression of at least one appropriate antisense RNA, or of a sense RNA for achievement of a cosuppression effect, or the expression of at least one appropriately constructed ribozyme which specifically cleaves transcripts of the abovementioned gene product. To this end, it is firstly possible to use DNA molecules which comprise the entire coding sequence of a gene product including any flanking sequences present, or else DNA molecules which comprise only parts of the coding sequence, in which case these parts must be long enough to bring about an antisense effect in the cells. The use of DNA sequences which have a high degree of homology to the coding sequences of a gene product, but are not completely identical to them, is also possible.

When expressing nucleic acid molecules in plants, the protein synthesized may be localized in any compartment of the plant cell. However, to achieve localization in a particular compartment, it is possible, for example, to link the coding region with DNA sequences which ensure localization in a particular compartment. Such sequences are known to those skilled in the art (see, for example, Braun et al., EMBO J. 11 (1992), 3219-3227; Wolter et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85 (1988), 846-850; Sonnewald et al., Plant J. 1 (1991), 95-106). The nucleic acid molecules can also be expressed in the organelles of the plant cells.

The transgenic plant cells can be regenerated by known techniques to give whole plants. In principle, the transgenic plants can be plants of any desired plant species, i.e. not only monocotyledonous, but also dicotyledonous, plants.

Thus, it is possible to obtain transgenic plants whose properties are altered by overexpression, suppression or inhibition of homologous (natural) genes or gene sequences, or expression of heterologous (=foreign) genes or gene sequences.

Preferably, the inventive compounds can be used in transgenic crops which are resistant to growth regulators, for example dicamba, or to herbicides which inhibit essential plant enzymes, for example acetolactate synthases (ALS), EPSP synthases, glutamine synthases (GS) or hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenases (HPPD), or to herbicides from the group of the sulfonylureas, the glyphosates, glufosinates or benzoylisoxazoles and analogous active ingredients.

On employment of the active compounds according to the invention in transgenic crops, not only do the effects toward harmful plants observed in other crops occur, but often also effects which are specific to application in the particular transgenic crop, for example an altered or specifically widened spectrum of weeds which can be controlled, altered application rates which can be used for the application, preferably good combinability with the herbicides to which the transgenic crop is resistant, and influencing of growth and yield of the transgenic crop plants.

The invention therefore also provides for the use of the inventive compounds as herbicides for control of harmful plants in transgenic crop plants.

The compounds according to the invention can be applied in the form of wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, sprayable solutions, dusting products or granules in the customary formulations. The invention therefore also provides herbicidal and plant growth-regulating compositions which comprise the compounds according to the invention.

The compounds according to the invention can be formulated in various ways, according to the biological and/or physicochemical parameters required. Examples of possible formulations include: wettable powders (WP), water-soluble powders (SP), water-soluble concentrates, emulsifiable concentrates (EC), emulsions (EW) such as oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions, sprayable solutions, suspension concentrates (SC), oil- or water-based dispersions, oil-miscible solutions, capsule suspensions (CS), dusting products (DP), seed-dressing products, granules for scattering and soil application, granules (GR) in the form of microgranules, spray granules, coated granules and adsorption granules, water-dispersible granules (WG), water-soluble granules (SG), ULV formulations, microcapsules and waxes.

These individual types of formulation are known in principle and are described, for example, in: Winnacker-Kuchler, “Chemische Technologie” [Chemical Technology], volume 7, C. Hanser Verlag Munich, 4th ed. 1986; Wade van Valkenburg, “Pesticide Formulations”, Marcel Dekker, N.Y., 1973; K. Martens, “Spray Drying” Handbook, 3rd ed. 1979, G. Goodwin Ltd. London.

The necessary formulation assistants, such as inert materials, surfactants, solvents and further additives, are likewise known and are described, for example, in: Watkins, “Handbook of Insecticide Dust Diluents and Carriers”, 2nd ed., Darland Books, Caldwell N.J., H. v. Olphen, “Introduction to Clay Colloid Chemistry”; 2nd ed., J. Wiley & Sons, N.Y.; C. Marsden, “Solvents Guide”; 2nd ed., Interscience, N.Y. 1963; McCutcheon's “Detergents and Emulsifiers Annual”, MC Publ. Corp., Ridgewood N.J.; Sisley and Wood, “Encyclopedia of Surface Active Agents”, Chem. Publ. Co. Inc., N.Y. 1964; Schonfeldt, “Grenzflächenaktive Äthylenoxidaddukte” [Interface-active Ethylene Oxide Adducts], Wiss. Verlagsgesell., Stuttgart 1976; Winnacker-Küchler, “Chemische Technologie” [Chemical Engineering], volume 7, C. Hanser Verlag Munich, 4th ed. 1986.

Based on these formulations, it is also possible to produce combinations with other pesticidally active compounds, such as, for example, insecticides, acaricides, herbicides, fungicides, and also with safeners, fertilizers and/or growth regulators, for example in the form of a finished formulation or as a tank mix. Suitable safeners are, for example, mefenpyr-diethyl, cyprosulfamide, isoxadifen-ethyl, cloquintocet-mexyl and dichlormid.

Wettable powders are preparations which can be dispersed uniformly in water and, in addition to the active ingredient, apart from a diluent or inert substance, also comprise surfactants of the ionic and/or nonionic type (wetting agents, dispersants), for example polyoxyethylated alkylphenols, polyoxyethylated fatty alcohols, polyoxyethylated fatty amines, fatty alcohol polyglycol ether sulfates, alkanesulfonates, alkylbenzenesulfonates, sodium lignosulfonate, sodium 2,2′-dinaphthylmethane-6,6′-disulfonate, sodium dibutylnaphthalenesulfonate or else sodium oleoylmethyltaurate. To produce the wettable powders, the herbicidal active compounds are ground finely, for example in customary apparatus such as hammer mills, blower mills and air-jet mills, and simultaneously or subsequently mixed with the formulation assistants.

Emulsifiable concentrates are produced by dissolving the active ingredient in an organic solvent, for example butanol, cyclohexanone, dimethylformamide, xylene, or else relatively high-boiling aromatics or hydrocarbons or mixtures of the organic solvents, with addition of one or more ionic and/or nonionic surfactants (emulsifiers). The emulsifiers used may be, for example: calcium alkylarylsulfonates such as calcium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, or nonionic emulsifiers such as fatty acid polyglycol esters, alkylaryl polyglycol ethers, fatty alcohol polyglycol ethers, propylene oxide-ethylene oxide condensation products, alkyl polyethers, sorbitan esters, for example sorbitan fatty acid esters, or polyoxyethylene sorbitan esters, for example polyoxyethylene sorbitan fatty acid esters.

Dusts are obtained by grinding the active compound with finely distributed solid substances, for example talc, natural clays, such as kaolin, bentonite and pyrophyllite, or diatomaceous earth.

Suspension concentrates may be water- or oil-based. They may be prepared, for example, by wet grinding by means of commercial bead mills and optional addition of surfactants as have, for example, already been listed above for the other formulation types.

Emulsions, for example oil-in-water emulsions (EW), can be produced, for example, by means of stirrers, colloid mills and/or static mixers using aqueous organic solvents and optionally surfactants as already listed above, for example, for the other formulation types.

Granules can be prepared either by spraying the active compound onto granulated inert material capable of adsorption or by applying active compound concentrates to the surface of carrier substances, such as sand, kaolinites or granulated inert material, by means of adhesives, for example polyvinyl alcohol, sodium polyacrylate or mineral oils. Suitable active compounds can also be granulated in the manner customary for the production of fertilizer granules—if desired as a mixture with fertilizers.

Water-dispersible granules are prepared generally by the customary processes such as spray-drying, fluidized bed granulation, pan granulation, mixing with high-speed mixers and extrusion without solid inert material.

For the production of pan granules, fluidized bed granules, extruder granules and spray granules, see, for example, processes in “Spray-Drying Handbook” 3rd ed. 1979, G. Goodwin Ltd., London, J. E. Browning, “Agglomeration”, Chemical and Engineering 1967, pages 147 ff.; “Perry's Chemical Engineer's Handbook”, 5th Ed., McGraw-Hill, New York 1973, pp. 8-57.

For further details regarding the formulation of crop protection compositions, see, for example, G. C. Klingman, “Weed Control as a Science”, John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 1961, pages 81-96 and J. D. Freyer, S. A. Evans, “Weed Control Handbook”, 5th ed., Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford, 1968, pages 101-103.

The agrochemical formulations contain generally 0.1 to 99% by weight, especially 0.1 to 95% by weight, of compounds according to the invention.

In wettable powders, the active compound concentration is, for example, from about 10 to 90% by weight, the remainder to 100% by weight consisting of customary formulation components. In the case of emulsifiable concentrates, the active compound concentration can be from about 1 to 90, preferably from 5 to 80, % by weight. Formulations in the form of dusts comprise

1 to 30% by weight of active ingredient, preferably usually 5 to 20% by weight of active ingredient; sprayable solutions contain about 0.05 to 80, preferably 2 to 50, % by weight of active ingredient. In the case of water-dispersible granules, the active ingredient content depends partly on whether the active compound is present in liquid or solid form and on which granulation assistants, fillers, etc., are used. In the water-dispersible granules, the content of active compound is, for example, between 1 and 95% by weight, preferably between 10 and 80% by weight.

In addition, the active compound formulations mentioned optionally comprise the respective customary tackifiers, wetting agents, dispersants, emulsifiers, penetrants, preservatives, antifreeze agents and solvents, fillers, carriers and dyes, defoamers, evaporation inhibitors and agents which influence the pH and the viscosity.

Based on these formulations, it is also possible to produce combinations with other pesticidally active compounds, such as, for example, insecticides, acaricides, herbicides, fungicides, and also with safeners, fertilizers and/or growth regulators, for example in the form of a finished formulation or as a tank mix.

Active compounds which can be employed in combination with the compounds according to the invention in mixed formulations or in the tank mix are, for example, known active compounds which are based on the inhibition of, for example, acetolactate synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, cellulose synthase, enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase, glutamine synthetase, p-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, phytoene desaturase, photosystem I, photosystem II, protoporphyrinogen oxidase, as are described in, for example, Weed Research 26 (1986) 441-445 or “The Pesticide Manual”, 15th edition, The British Crop Protection Council and the Royal Soc. of Chemistry, 2009 and the literature cited therein. Examples of known herbicides or plant growth regulators which can be combined with the inventive compounds include the active ingredients which follow (the compounds are designated by the “common name” according to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or by the chemical name or by the code number) and always encompass all use forms, such as acids, salts, esters and isomers, such as stereoisomers and optical isomers. Here, by way of example, one and in some cases a plurality of use forms is mentioned:

acetochlor, acibenzolar, acibenzolar-S-methyl, acifluorfen, acifluorfen-sodium, aclonifen, alachlor, allidochlor, alloxydim, alloxydim-sodium, ametryne, amicarbazone, amidochlor, amidosulfuron, aminocyclopyrachlor, aminopyralid, amitrole, ammonium sulfamate, ancymidol, anilofos, asulam, atrazine, azafenidin, azimsulfuron, aziprotryne, beflubutamid, benazolin, benazolin-ethyl, bencarbazone, benfluralin, benfuresate, bensulide, bensulfuron, bensulfuron-methyl, bentazone, benzfendizone, benzobicyclon, benzofenap, benzofluor, benzoylprop, bicyclopyrone, bifenox, bilanafos, bilanafos-sodium, bispyribac, bispyribac-sodium, bromacil, bromobutide, bromofenoxim, bromoxynil, bromuron, buminafos, busoxinone, butachlor, butafenacil, butamifos, butenachlor, butralin, butroxydim, butylate, cafenstrole, carbetamide, carfentrazone, carfentrazone-ethyl, chlomethoxyfen, chloramben, chlorazifop, chlorazifop-butyl, chlorbromuron, chlorbufam, chlorfenac, chlorfenac-sodium, chlorfenprop, chlorflurenol, chlorflurenol-methyl, chloridazon, chlorimuron, chlorimuron-ethyl, chlormequat-chloride, chlornitrofen, chlorophthalim, chlorthal-dimethyl, chlortoluron, chlorsulfuron, cinidon, cinidon-ethyl, cinmethylin, cinosulfuron, clethodim, clodinafop, clodinafop-propargyl, clofencet, clomazone, clomeprop, cloprop, clopyralid, cloransulam, cloransulam-methyl, cumyluron, cyanamide, cyanazine, cyclanilide, cycloate, cyclosulfamuron, cycloxydim, cycluron, cyhalofop, cyhalofop-butyl, cyperquat, cyprazine, cyprazole, 2,4-D, 2,4-DB, daimuron/dymron, dalapon, daminozide, dazomet, n-decanol, desmedipham, desmetryn, detosyl-pyrazolate (DTP), diallate, dicamba, dichlobenil, dichlorprop, dichlorprop-P, diclofop, diclofop-methyl, diclofop-P-methyl, diclosulam, diethatyl, diethatyl-ethyl, difenoxuron, difenzoquat, diflufenican, diflufenzopyr, diflufenzopyr-sodium, dimefuron, dikegulac-sodium, dimefuron, dimepiperate, dimethachlor, dimethametryn, dimethenamid, dimethenamid-P, dimethipin, dimetrasulfuron, dinitramine, dinoseb, dinoterb, diphenamid, dipropetryn, diquat, diquat-dibromide, dithiopyr, diuron, DNOC, eglinazine-ethyl, endothal, EPTC, esprocarb, ethalfluralin, ethametsulfuron, ethametsulfuron-methyl, ethephon, ethidimuron, ethiozin, ethofumesate, ethoxyfen, ethoxyfen-ethyl, ethoxysulfuron, etobenzanid, F-5331, i.e. N-[2-chloro-4-fluoro-5-[4-(3-fluoropropyl)-4,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1H-tetrazol-1-yl]phenyl]ethanesulfonamide, F-7967, i.e. 3-[7-chloro-5-fluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-benzimidazol-4-yl]-1-methyl-6-(trifluoromethyl)pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione, fenoprop, fenoxaprop, fenoxaprop-P, fenoxaprop-ethyl, fenoxaprop-P-ethyl, fenoxasulfone, fentrazamide, fenuron, flamprop, flamprop-M-isopropyl, flamprop-M-methyl, flazasulfuron, florasulam, fluazifop, fluazifop-P, fluazifop-butyl, fluazifop-P-butyl, fluazolate, flucarbazone, flucarbazone-sodium, flucetosulfuron, fluchloralin, flufenacet (thiafluamide), flufenpyr, flufenpyr-ethyl, flumetralin, flumetsulam, flumiclorac, flumiclorac-pentyl, flumioxazin, flumipropyn, fluometuron, fluorodifen, fluoroglycofen, fluoroglycofen-ethyl, flupoxam, flupropacil, flupropanate, flupyrsulfuron, flupyrsulfuron-methyl-sodium, flurenol, flurenol-butyl, fluridone, flurochloridone, fluroxypyr, fluroxypyr-meptyl, flurprimidol, flurtamone, fluthiacet, fluthiacet-methyl, fluthiamide, fomesafen, foramsulfuron, forchlorfenuron, fosamine, furyloxyfen, gibberellic acid, glufosinate, glufosinate-ammonium, glufosinate-P, glufosinate-P-ammonium, glufosinate-P-sodium, glyphosate, glyphosate-isopropylammonium, H-9201, i.e. 0-(2,4-dimethyl-6-nitrophenyl) O-ethyl isopropylphosphoramidothioate, halosafen, halosulfuron, halosulfuron-methyl, haloxyfop, haloxyfop-P, haloxyfop-ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop-P-ethoxyethyl, haloxyfop-methyl, haloxyfop-P-methyl, hexazinone, HW-02, i.e. 1-(dimethoxyphosphoryl)ethyl(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetate, imazamethabenz, imazamethabenz-methyl, imazamox, imazamox-ammonium, imazapic, imazapyr, imazapyr-isopropylammonium, imazaquin, imazaquin-ammonium, imazethapyr, imazethapyr-ammonium, imazosulfuron, inabenfide, indanofan, indaziflam, indoleacetic acid (IAA), 4-indol-3-ylbutyric acid (IBA), iodosulfuron, iodosulfuron-methyl-sodium, ioxynil, ipfencarbazone, isocarbamid, isopropalin, isoproturon, isouron, isoxaben, isoxachlortole, isoxaflutole, isoxapyrifop, KUH-043, i.e. 3-({[5-(difluoromethyl)-1-methyl-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl]methyl}sulfonyl)-5,5-dimethyl-4,5-dihydro-1,2-oxazole, karbutilate, ketospiradox, lactofen, lenacil, linuron, maleic hydrazide, MCPA, MCPB, MCPB-methyl, -ethyl and -sodium, mecoprop, mecoprop-sodium, mecoprop-butotyl, mecoprop-P-butotyl, mecoprop-P-dimethylammonium, mecoprop-P-2-ethylhexyl, mecoprop-P-potassium, mefenacet, mefluidide, mepiquat-chloride, mesosulfuron, mesosulfuron-methyl, mesotrione, methabenzthiazuron, metam, metamifop, metamitron, metazachlor, metazasulfuron, methazole, methiopyrsulfuron, methiozolin, methoxyphenone, methyldymron, 1-methylcyclopropene, methyl isothiocyanate, metobenzuron, metobromuron, metolachlor, S-metolachlor, metosulam, metoxuron, metribuzin, metsulfuron, metsulfuron-methyl, molinate, monalide, monocarbamide, monocarbamide dihydrogensulfate, monolinuron, monosulfuron, monosulfuron ester, monuron, MT-128, i.e. 6-chloro-N-[(2E)-3-chloroprop-2-en-1-yl]-5-methyl-N-phenylpyridazine-3-amine, MT-5950, i.e. N-[3-chloro-4-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-2-methylpentanamide, NGGC-011, naproanilide, napropamide, naptalam, NC-310, i.e. 4-(2,4-dichlorobenzoyl)-1-methyl-5-benzyloxypyrazole, neburon, nicosulfuron, nipyraclofen, nitralin, nitrofen, nitrophenolate-sodium (isomer mixture), nitrofluorfen, nonanoic acid, norflurazon, orbencarb, orthosulfamuron, oryzalin, oxadiargyl, oxadiazon, oxasulfuron, oxaziclomefone, oxyfluorfen, paclobutrazole, paraquat, paraquat dichloride, pelargonic acid (nonanoic acid), pendimethalin, pendralin, penoxsulam, pentanochlor, pentoxazone, perfluidone, pethoxamid, phenisopham, phenmedipham, phenmedipham-ethyl, picloram, picolinafen, pinoxaden, piperophos, pirifenop, pirifenop-butyl, pretilachlor, primisulfuron, primisulfuron-methyl, probenazole, profluazole, procyazine, prodiamine, prifluraline, profoxydim, prohexadione, prohexadione-calcium, prohydrojasmone, prometon, prometryn, propachlor, propanil, propaquizafop, propazine, propham, propisochlor, propoxycarbazone, propoxycarbazone-sodium, propyrisulfuron, propyzamide, prosulfalin, prosulfocarb, prosulfuron, prynachlor, pyraclonil, pyraflufen, pyraflufen-ethyl, pyrasulfotole, pyrazolynate (pyrazolate), pyrazosulfuron, pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, pyrazoxyfen, pyribambenz, pyribambenz-isopropyl, pyribambenz-propyl, pyribenzoxim, pyributicarb, pyridafol, pyridate, pyriftalid, pyriminobac, pyriminobac-methyl, pyrimisulfan, pyrithiobac, pyrithiobac-sodium, pyroxasulfone, pyroxsulam, quinclorac, quinmerac, quinoclamine, quizalofop, quizalofop-ethyl, quizalofop-P, quizalofop-P-ethyl, quizalofop-P-tefuryl, rimsulfuron, saflufenacil, secbumeton, sethoxydim, siduron, simazine, simetryn, SN-106279, i.e. methyl(2R)-2-({7-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-naphthyl}oxy)propanoate, sulcotrione, sulfallate (CDEC), sulfentrazone, sulfometuron, sulfometuron-methyl, sulfosate (glyphosate-trimesium), sulfosulfuron, SYN-523, SYP-249, i.e. 1-ethoxy-3-methyl-1-oxobut-3-en-2-yl 5-[2-chloro-4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy]-2-nitrobenzoate, SYP-300, i.e. 1-[7-fluoro-3-oxo-4-(prop-2-yn-1-yl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-6-yl]-3-propyl-2-thioxoimidazolidine-4,5-dione, tebutam, tebuthiuron, tecnazene, tefuryltrione, tembotrione, tepraloxydim, terbacil, terbucarb, terbuchlor, terbumeton, terbuthylazine, terbutryne, thenylchlor, thiafluamide, thiazafluron, thiazopyr, thidiazimin, thidiazuron, thiencarbazone, thiencarbazone-methyl, thifensulfuron, thifensulfuron-methyl, thiobencarb, tiocarbazil, topramezone, tralkoxydim, triallate, triasulfuron, triaziflam, triazofenamide, tribenuron, tribenuron-methyl, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), triclopyr, tridiphane, trietazine, trifloxysulfuron, trifloxysulfuron-sodium, trifluralin, triflusulfuron, triflusulfuron-methyl, trimeturon, trinexapac, trinexapac-ethyl, tritosulfuron, tsitodef, uniconazole, uniconazole-P, vernolate, ZJ-0862, i.e. 3,4-dichloro-N-{2-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)oxy]benzyl}aniline, and the following compounds:

For application, the formulations present in commercial form are, if appropriate, diluted in a customary manner, for example in the case of wettable powders, emulsifiable concentrates, dispersions and water-dispersible granules with water. Preparations in the form of dusts, granules for soil application or granules for broadcasting and sprayable solutions are usually not diluted further with other inert substances prior to application.

The required application rate of the compounds of the formula (I) varies with the external conditions, including temperature, humidity and the type of herbicide used. It may vary within wide limits, for example between 0.001 and 1.0 kg/ha or more of active substance; however, preferably it is between 0.005 and 750 g/ha.

The examples which follow illustrate the invention.

A. CHEMICAL EXAMPLES Synthesis of 2-chloro-5-methyl-3-methylthio-N-(1-methyltetrazol-511)benzamide (No. 2-27)

Step 1: Synthesis of N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2,6-dibromo-4-methylaniline

Under an atmosphere of argon, 50.0 g (189 mmol) of 2,6-dibromo-4-methylaniline in 500 ml of dry dichloromethane were cooled to a temperature of 0° C.-5° C. At this temperature, 15.7 g (198 mmol) of pyridine were added. At a temperature of 5° C.-7° C., 41.6 g (198 mmol) of trifluoroacetic anhydride were then added dropwise. The reaction mixture was stirred at this temperature for 1 h and then at room temperature (RT) for 16 h. For work-up, the contents were washed once with water and then twice with 1M hydrochloric acid. The organic phase was dried and the filtrate was freed of the solvent. 69.3 g of N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2,6-dibromo-4-methylaniline were obtained as residue.

Step 2: Synthesis of N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-bromo-4-methyl-6-(methylthio)aniline

Under an atmosphere of argon, 69.3 g (95% by weight pure, 182 mmol) of N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2,6-dibromo-4-methylaniline in 900 ml of dry diethyl ether were cooled to a temperature of −70° C. At this temperature, 153 ml of a 2.5M solution (382.5 mmol) of n-butyllithium in hexane were added dropwise. The mixture was subsequently stirred at this temperature for another 30 minutes. At this temperature, a solution of 51.5 g (547 mmol) of dimethyl disulfide in 100 ml of dry diethyl ether was then added dropwise. The contents were stirred at this temperature for 1 h and then at RT for 3 h and subsequently poured into 1000 ml of 1M hydrochloric acid. After phase separation, the aqueous phase was extracted with diethyl ether, the combined organic phases were dried and the filtrate was freed of the solvents. The residue was stirred with heptane for 30 minutes and then filtered. 46.6 g of N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-bromo-4-methyl-6-(methylthio)aniline were obtained as residue.

Step 3: Synthesis of 5-methyl-3-(methylthio)-2-(trifluoroacetylamino)benzoic acid

Under an atmosphere of argon, 46.6 g (142 mmol) of N-(trifluoroacetyl)-2-bromo-4-methyl-6-(methylthio)aniline in 750 ml of dry diethyl ether were cooled to a temperature of −65° C. At this temperature, 119 ml of a 2.5M solution (297.5 mmol) of n-butyllithium in hexane were added dropwise. The mixture was subsequently stirred at this temperature for 2 h. The contents were then carefully poured onto a mixture of 62.5 g (1.42 mol) of carbon dioxide (as dry ice ground in a mortar) and 150 ml of dry ether. The mixture was thawed to RT and extracted three times with water. The combined aqueous phases were acidified to pH<2 with dilute hydrochloric acid and cooled to a temperature of 0° C.-5° C. The mixture was filtered, giving 31.0 g of 5-methyl-3-(methylthio)-2-(trifluoroacetylamino)benzoic acid as residue.

Step 4: Synthesis of 2-amino-5-methyl-3-(methylthio)benzoic acid

22.0 g (75.0 mmol) of 5-methyl-3-(methylthio)-2-(trifluoroacetylamino)benzoic acid and 9.44 g (225 mmol) of lithium hydroxide monohydrate were heated under reflux in a mixture of 200 ml of methanol and 30 ml of water for 4 h. For work-up, the contents were cooled and freed of the solvents. The residue was taken up in water and the mixture was acidified to pH<3 with dilute hydrochloric acid. The mixture was stirred at a temperature of 0° C.-5° C. for 30 minutes and then filtered. 15.0 g of 2-amino-5-methyl-3-(methylthio)benzoic acid of a purity of >95% by weight were obtained as residue.

Step 5: Synthesis of 2-chloro-5-methyl-3-(methylthio)benzoic acid

13 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid were added to 6.00 g (30.4 mmol) of 2-amino-5-methyl-3-(methylthio)benzoic acid in 35 ml of water, and the mixture was heated at 60° C. for a few minutes. The solution was then cooled to a temperature of 0° C.-5° C., and a solution of 2.31 g (33.5 mmol) of sodium nitrite in 10 ml of water was slowly added dropwise at this temperature. The mixture was subsequently stirred at this temperature for another 1 h. This solution was added dropwise to a mixture, at RT, of 4.52 g (45.6 mmol) of copper(I) chloride, 35 ml of water and 27 ml of concentrated hydrochloric acid. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 15 minutes and then slowly heated to reflux temperature. The contents were then heated under reflux for 15 minutes. For work-up, the reaction mixture was cooled and filtered, and the residue was washed with water. This gave 5.62 g of 2-chloro-5-methyl-3-(methylthio)benzoic acid as residue.

Step 6: Synthesis of 2-chloro-5-methyl-3-methylthio-N-(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)benzamide (No. 2-16)

500 mg (2.31 mmol) of 2-chloro-5-methyl-3-(methylthio)benzoic acid and 320 mg (3.23 mmol) of 5-amino-1-methyltetrazole and a catalytic amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine were dissolved in 10 ml of pyridine. 410 mg (3.23 mmol) of oxalyl chloride were then carefully added dropwise. After ten minutes, the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for 4 h. To bring the reaction to completion, another 137 mg (1.08 mmol) of oxalyl chloride were added at RT and the mixture was stirred at 80° C. for another 4 h. For work-up, the contents were cooled to RT and freed of the solvent on a rotary evaporator, and the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane. The solution was washed with saturated aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and the organic phase was then freed of the solvent. The residue was purified chromatographically, giving 495 mg of 2-chloro-5-methyl-3-methylthio-N-(1-methyltetrazol-5-yl)benzamide.

The examples listed in the tables below were prepared analogously to the abovementioned methods or are obtainable analogously to the abovementioned methods. The compounds listed in the tables below are very particularly preferred.

The abbreviations used denote:

-   -   Et=ethyl Me=methyl

TABLE 1 Compounds according to the invention of the general formula (I) in which A is CY and B is CH

Physical data No. R X Y Z W (¹H NMR, DMSO-d₆, 400 MHz) 1-1  Me I SMe H Me 7.37 (s, 1H), 7.05 (s, 1H), 7.00 (s, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 2.36 (s, 3H) in CDCl₃ 1-2  Me I SO₂Me H Me 8.15 (s, 1H), 7.63 (s, 1H), 7.48 (s, 1H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 3.29 (s, 3H), 2.44 (s, 3H) in CDCl₃ 1-3  Me I SOMe H Me 7.71-7.69 (m, 2H), 7.48 (s, 1H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 2.76 (s, 3H), 2.49 (s, 3H) in CDCl₃ 1-4  Me Br SMe H Me 7.34 (s, 1H), 7.12 (s, 1H), 7.05 (s, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 2.36 (s, 3H) in CDCl₃ 1-5  Me Br SOMe H Me 7.80 (s, 1H), 7.75 (s, 1H), 7.57 (s, 1H), 3.92 (s, 3H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.48 (s, 3H) in CDCl₃ 1-6  Me Br SO₂Me H Me 8.14 (s, 1H), 7.70 (s, 1H), 7.60 (s, 1H), 3.91 (s, 3H), 3.31 (s, 3H), 2.45 (s, 3H) in CDCl₃ 1-7  Me Cl SMe H Me 1-8  Me Cl SOMe H Me 1-9  Me Cl SO₂Me H Me 1-10 Me Me SMe H Me 1-11 Me Me SOMe H Me 1-12 Me Me SO₂Me H Me 1-13 Me Cl H F Me 11.14 (brs, 1H), 7.88 (s, 1H), 7.68 (d, 1H), 7.53 (d, 1H), 3.75 (s, 3H), 2.56 (s, 3H), 2.28 (s, 3H) 1-14 Me Cl H SMe Me 11.04 (brs, 1H), 7.88 (s, 1H), 7.51 (s, 1H), 7.28 (s, 1H), 3.74 (s, 3H), 2.56 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 3H) 1-15 Me Cl H SO₂Me Me 11.42 (brs, 1H), 7.99 (s, 1H), 7.93 (s, 1H), 7.88 (s, 1H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H)

TABLE 2 Compounds according to the invention of the general formula (I) in which A is CY and B is N

Physical data No. R X Y Z W (¹H NMR, DMSO-d₆, 400 MHz) 2-1  Me Me SMe H Me 7.16 (s, 1H), 4.11 (s, 3H), 2.49 (s, 3H), 2.45 (s, 3H), 2.40 (s, 3H) 2-2  Me Me SOMe H Me 7.92 (s, 1H), 7.59 (s, 1H), 4.11 (s, 3H), 2.70 (s, 3H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 2.42 (s, 3H) 2-3  Me Me SO₂Me H Me 8.11 (s, 1H), 7.77 (s, 1H), 4.14 (s, 3H), 3.14 (s, 3H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.49 (s, 3H) 2-4  Et Me SMe H Me 7.16 (s, 1H), 4.47 (q, 2H), 2.49 (s, 3H), 2.44 (s, 3H), 2.40 (s, 3H), 1.63 (t, 3H) 2-5  Et Me SOMe H Me 7.86 (s, 1H), 7.59 (s, 1H), 4.46 (q, 2H), 2.69 (s, 3H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 1.64 (t, 3H) 2-6  Et Me SO₂Me H Me 8.11 (s, 1H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 4.51 (q, 2H), 3.15 (s, 3H), 2.83 (s, 3H), 2.49 (s, 3H), 1.63 (t, 3H) 2-7  n-Pr Me SMe H Me 2-8  n-Pr Me SOMe H Me 2-9  n-Pr Me SO₂Me H Me 2-10 Me NH₂ SMe H Me 2-11 Me NH₂ SOMe H Me 8.06 (s, 1H), 7.29 (s, 1H), 4.05 (s, 3H), 2.93 (s, 3H), 2.37 (s, 3H) 2-12 Me NH₂ SO₂Me H Me 2-13 Me NH(C═O)CF₃ SMe H Me 7.55 (s, 1H), 7.35 (s, 1H), 4.08 (s, 3H), 2.52 (s, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H) 2-14 Me NH(C═O)CF₃ SOMe H Me 2-15 Me NH(C═O)CF₃ SO₂Me H Me 8.01 (brs, 2H), 4.03 (brs, 3H), 3.13 (s, 3H), 2.47 (brs, 3H) 2-16 Me Cl SMe H Me 7.32 (s, 1H), 7.14 (s, 1H), 4.12 (s, 3H), 2.52 (s, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H) 2-17 Me Cl SOMe H Me 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.65 (s, 1H), 4.12 (s, 3H), 2.83 (s, 3H), 2.52 (s, 3H) 2-18 Me Cl SO₂Me H Me 8.20 (s, 1H), 7.75 (s, 1H), 4.14 (s, 3H), 3.32 (s, 3H), 2.51 (s, 3H) 2-19 Et Cl SMe H Me 7.31 (s, 1H), 7.14 (s, 1H), 4.48 (q, 2H), 2.52 (s, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 1.63 (t, 3H) 2-20 Et Cl SOMe H Me 7.77 (s, 1H), 7.63 (s, 1H), 4.48 (q, 2H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 1.64 (t, 3H) 2-21 Et Cl SO₂Me H Me 8.18 (s, 1H), 7.75 (s, 1H), 4.51 (q, 2H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 1.62 (t, 3H) 2-22 n-Pr Cl SMe H Me 7.31 (s, 1H), 7.13 (s, 1H), 4.41 (t, 2H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 2.03 (sex, 2H), 0.99 (t, 3H) 2-23 n-Pr Cl SOMe H Me 7.77 (s, 1H), 7.63 (s, 1H), 4.41 (t, 2H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.52 (s, 3H), 2.05 (sex, 2H), 1.01 (t, 3H) 2-24 n-Pr Cl SO₂Me H Me 8.18 (s, 1H), 7.73 (s, 1H), 4.44 (t, 2H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 2.03 (sex, 2H), 0.99 (t, 3H) 2-25 Me Br SMe H Me 7.20 (s, 1H), 7.08 (s, 1H), 4.15 (s, 3H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 2.39 (s, 3H) 2-26 Me Br SOMe H Me 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.57 (s, 1H), 4.15 (s, 3H), 2.82 (s, 3H), 2.51 (s, 3H) 2-27 Me Br SO₂Me H Me 8.21 (s, 1H), 7.64 (s, 1H), 4.17 (s, 3H), 3.33 (s, 3H), 2.49 (s, 3H) 2-28 Et Br SMe H Me 7.19 (s, 1H), 7.08 (s, 1H), 4.51 (q, 2H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 2.39 (s, 3H), 1.65 (t, 3H) 2-29 Et Br SOMe H Me 7.72 (s, 1H), 7.55 (s, 1H), 4.50 (q, 2H), 2.79 (s, 3H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 1.66 (t, 3H) 2-30 Et Br SO₂Me H Me 8.19 (s, 1H), 7.63 (s, 1H), 4.53 (q, 2H), 3.33 (s, 3H), 2.49 (s, 3H), 1.65 (t, 3H) 2-31 n-Pr Br SMe H Me 7.19 (s, 1H), 7.08 (s, 1H), 4.44 (t, 2H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 2.39 (s, 3H), 2.06 (sex, 2H), 1.00 (t, 3H) 2-32 n-Pr Br SOMe H Me 7.70 (s, 1H), 7.54 (s, 1H), 4.43 (t, 2H), 2.78 (s, 3H), 2.51 (s, 3H), 2.07 (sex, 2H), 1.03 (t, 3H) 2-33 n-Pr Br SO₂Me H Me 8.20 (s, 1H), 7.62 (s, 1H), 4.45 (t, 2H), 3.33 (s, 3H), 2.49 (s, 3H), 2.06 (sex, 2H), 1.01 (t, 3H) 2-34 Me I SMe H Me 7.11 (s, 1H), 7.03 (s, 1H), 4.20 (s, 3H), 2.50 (s, 3H), 2.39 (s, 3H) in CDCl₃ 2-35 Me I SOMe H Me 7.70 (s, 1H), 7.64 (s, 1H), 4.04 (s, 3H), 2.79 (s, 3H), 2.45 (s, 3H) 2-36 Me I SO₂Me H Me 2-37 Me OMe SMe H F 11.45 (brs, 1H), 7.29 (2d, 2H), 3.98 (s, 3H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 2.5 (s, 3H) 2-38 Me OMe SO₂Me H F 11.94 (brs, 1H), 8.01 (dd, 1H), 7.80 (dd, 1H), 4.02 (s, 3H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.37 (s, 3H) 2-39 Me Cl H SO₂Me Me 11.96 (brs, 1H), 8.00 (s, 1H), 7.91 (s, 1H), 4.01 (s, 3H), 3.35 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H) 2-40 Me Cl H SOMe Cl 8.18 (s, 1H), 7.88 (s, 1H), 4.02 (s, 3H), 2.90 (s, 3H) 2-41 Me Cl H SO₂Me Cl 8.32 (s, 1H), 8.11 (s, 1H), 4.02 (s, 3H), 3.48 (s, 3H) 2-42 Me Cl Me F Me 7.56 (d, 1H), 3.98 (s, 3H), 2.31 (d, 3H), 2.28 (d, 3H) 2-43 Me Cl Me SMe Me 2-44 Me Cl Me SOMe Me 7.53 (s, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 2.96 (s, 3H), 2.66 (s, 3H), 2.57 (s, 3H) 2-45 Me Cl Me SO₂Me Me 11.88 (brs, 1H), 7.69 (s, 1H), 4.01 (s, 3H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 2.76 (s, 3H), 2.69 (s, 3H) 2-46 Et Cl Me SMe Me 2-47 Et Cl Me SOMe Me 7.53 (s, 1H), 4.36 (q, 2H), 2.96 (s, 3H), 2.66 (s, 3H), 2.57 (s, 3H), 1.47 (t, 3H) 2-48 Et Cl Me SO₂Me Me 11.78 (brs, 1H), 7.68 (s, 1H), 4.37 (q, 2H), 3.34 (s, 3H), 2.76 (s, 3H), 2.69 (s, 3H), 1.48 (t, 3H) 2-49 Pr Cl Me SMe Me 2-50 Pr Cl Me SOMe Me 7.53 (s, 1H), 4.32 (t, 2H), 2.96 (s, 3H), 2.66 (s, 3H), 2.57 (s, 3H), 1.88 (m, 2H), 0.88 (t, 3H) 2-51 Pr Cl Me SO₂Me Me 7.66 (s, 1H), 4.32 (t, 2H), 3.31 (s, 3H), 2.76 (s, 3H), 2.70 (s, 3H), 1.88 (m, 2H), 0.88 (t, 3H) 2-52 Me Cl OMe SMe OMe 9.95 (brs, 1H), 7.14 (s, 1H), 4.11 (s, 3H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 2.50 (s, 3H) 2-53 Me Cl OMe SO₂Me OMe 11.92 (brs, 1H), 7.49 (s, 1H), 4.03 (s, 3H), 3.98 (s, 3H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.37 (s, 3H) 2-54 Me Cl CO₂Me Cl Me 2-55 Me Cl CO₂Me SMe Me 2-56 Me Cl CO₂Me SO₂Me Me 2-57 Me Cl CO₂Me Cl Cl 2-58 Me Cl CO₂Me SMe Cl 2-59 Me Cl CO₂Me SO₂Me Cl 2-60 Me Me NH₂ SO₂Me Me 8.67 (s, 1H), 6.81 (s, 1H), 5.72 (s, 2H), 4.12 (s, 3H), 3.11 (s, 3H), 2.66 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 3H) 2-61 Me Me NMe₂ SO₂Me Me 11.65 (brs, 1H), 7.48 (s, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 3.38 (s, 3H), 2.80 (s, 6H), 2.62 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H) 2-62 Me Me NHEt SO₂Me Me 10.66 (brs, 1H), 7.13 (s, 1H), 6.28 (brs, 1H), 4.11 (s, 3H), 3.15 (q, 2H), 3.14 (s, 3H), 2.68 (s, 3H), 2.41 (s, 3H), 1.26 (t, 3H) 2-63 Me Cl H SMe Cl 11.82 (brs, 1H), 7.90 (s, 1H), 7.41 (s, 1H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 2.60 (s, 3H) 2-64 Me Cl H SMe Me 11.61 (brs, 1H), 7.57 (s, 1H), 7.30 (s, 1H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 2.57 (s, 3H), 2.27 (s, 3H) 2-65 Me Cl H SOMe Me 11.85 (brs, 1H), 7.85 (s, 1H), 7.73 (s, 1H), 4.00 (s, 3H), 2.75 (s, 3H), 2.38 (s, 3H) 2-66 Me F H CN F 11.95 (brs, 1H), 8.25 (dd, 1H), 8.05 (dd, 1H), 3.98 (s, 3H) 2-67 Et F H CN F 11.89 (brs, 1H), 8.25 (dd, 1H), 8.06 (dd, 1H), 4.33 (q, 2H), 1.45 (t, 3H) 2-68 Et Cl H SO₂Me Cl 2-69 Et Me NMe₂ SO₂Me Me 11.57 (brs, 1H), 7.47 (s, 1H), 4.34 (q, 2H), 3.38 (s, 3H), 2.80 (s, 6H), 2.62 (s, 3H), 2.35 (s, 3H), 1.48 (t, 3H) 2-70 Me Cl H F Me 2-71 Et Cl H Cl Cl 11.85 (brs, 1H), 8.17 (s, 1H), 8.07 (s, 1H), 4.36 (q, 2H), 1.47 (t, 3H) 2-72 C₂H₄OMe Me SMe H Me 2-73 C₂H₄OMe Me SOMe H Me 2-74 C₂H₄OMe Me SO₂Me H Me 2-75 C₂H₄OMe Cl SMe H Me 2-76 C₂H₄OMe Cl SOMe H Me 2-77 C₂H₄OMe Cl SO₂Me H Me 2-78 C₂H₄OMe Br SMe H Me 2-79 C₂H₄OMe Br SOMe H Me 2-80 C₂H₄OMe Br SO₂Me H Me 2-81 C₂H₄OMe Cl Me SMe Me 2-82 C₂H₄OMe Cl Me SO₂Me Me 2-83 C₂H₄OMe Me NMe₂ SO₂Me Me 10.02 (brs, 1H), 7.31 (s, 1H), 4.64 (t, 4H), 3.84 (t, 2H), 3.37 (s, 3H), 3.33 (s, 3H), 2.88 (s, 6H), 2.70 (s, 3H), 2.45 (s, 3H)

TABLE 3 Compounds according to the invention of the general formula (I) in which A and B are N

Physical data (¹H-NMR, No. R X Z W DMSO-d₆, 400 MHz) 3-1  Me Me CF₃ Me 3-2  Me Me CF₃ F 3-3  Me Me CF₃ Cl 3-4  Me Me Cl Me 3-5  Me Me Cl Cl 3-6  Me Me SMe Me 3-7  Me Me SO₂Me Me 3-8  Me Me SMe Cl 3-9  Me Me SO₂Me Cl 3-10 Me Cl CF₃ Me 3-11 Me Cl CF₃ F 3-12 Me Cl CF₃ Cl 3-13 Me Cl Cl Me 3-14 Me Cl Cl F 12.08 (brs, 1H), 8.61 (d, 1H), 4.01 (s, 3H) 3-15 Et Cl Cl F 11.99 (brs, 1H), 8.62 (d, 1H), 4.37 (q, 2H), 1.48 (t, 3H) 3-16 Me Cl Cl Cl 3-17 Me Cl SMe Me 3-18 Me Cl SO₂Me Me 3-19 Me Cl SMe F 3-20 Me Cl SO₂Me F 3-21 Me Cl SMe Cl 3-22 Me Cl SO₂Me Cl

B. FORMULATION EXAMPLES

-   a) A dust is obtained by mixing 10 parts by weight of a compound of     the formula (I) and/or a salt thereof and 90 parts by weight of talc     as inert substance and comminuting the mixture in a hammer mill. -   b) A readily water-dispersible wettable powder is obtained by mixing     25 parts by weight of a compound of the formula (I) and/or salts     thereof, 64 parts by weight of kaolin-containing quartz as an inert     substance, 10 parts by weight of potassium lignosulfonate and 1 part     by weight of sodium oleoylmethyltaurate as a wetting agent and     dispersant, and grinding the mixture in a pinned-disk mill. -   c) A readily water-dispersible dispersion concentrate is obtained by     mixing 20 parts by weight of a compound of the formula (I) and/or     salts thereof with 6 parts by weight of alkylphenol polyglycol ether     (®Triton X 207), 3 parts by weight of isotridecanol polyglycol ether     (8 EO) and 71 parts by weight of paraffinic mineral oil (boiling     range for example about 255 to above 277° C.), and grinding the     mixture in a ball mill to a fineness of below 5 microns. -   d) An emulsifiable concentrate is obtained from 15 parts by weight     of a compound of the formula (I) and/or salts thereof, 75 parts by     weight of cyclohexanone as a solvent and 10 parts by weight of     ethoxylated nonylphenol as an emulsifier. -   e) Water-dispersible granules are obtained by mixing     -   75 parts by weight of a compound of the formula (I) and/or salts         thereof,     -   10 parts by weight of calcium lignosulfonate,     -   5 parts by weight of sodium laurylsulfate,     -   3 parts by weight of polyvinyl alcohol and     -   7 parts by weight of kaolin,     -   grinding the mixture in a pinned-disk mill, and granulating the         powder in a fluidized bed by spray application of water as a         granulating liquid. -   f) Water-dispersible granules are also obtained by homogenizing and     precomminuting     -   25 parts by weight of a compound of the formula (I) and/or salts         thereof,     -   5 parts by weight of sodium         2,2′-dinaphthylmethane-6,6′-disulfonate,     -   2 parts by weight of sodium oleoylmethyltaurate,     -   1 part by weight of polyvinyl alcohol,     -   17 parts by weight of calcium carbonate and     -   50 parts by weight of water     -   in a colloid mill, then grinding the mixture in a bead mill and         atomizing and drying the resulting suspension in a spray tower         by means of a one-substance nozzle.

C. BIOLOGICAL EXAMPLES

1. Pre-Emergence Herbicidal Action Against Harmful Plants

Seeds of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed plants and crop plants are placed in wood-fiber pots in sandy loam and covered with soil. The inventive compounds formulated in the form of wettable powders (WP) or as emulsion concentrates (EC) are then applied to the surface of the covering soil as an aqueous suspension or emulsion at a water application rate of 600 to 800 I/ha (converted) with addition of 0.2% wetting agent. After the treatment, the pots are placed in a greenhouse and kept under good growth conditions for the test plants. The damage to the test plants is assessed visually after a test period of 3 weeks by comparison with untreated controls (herbicidal activity in percent (%): 100% action=the plants have died, 0% action=like control plants). Here, for example, the compounds Nos. 1-06, 2-01, 2-02, 2-03, 2-04, 2-05, 2-06, 2-16, 2-19, 2-21, 2-37, 2-43, 2-48, 2-49, 2-64 and 2-69, at an application rate of 320 g/ha, each show an activity of at least 80% against Alopecurus myosuroides and Amaranthus retroflexus. The compounds Nos. 2-17, 2-18, 2-20, 2-22, 2-23, 2-24, 2-27, 2-30, 2-33, 2-44, 2-45, 2-46, 2-47 and 2-62, at an application rate of 320 g/ha, each show an activity of at least 80% against Cyperus serotinus and Setaria viridis. The compounds Nos. 2-25, 2-26, 2-28, 2-29, 2-37, 2-42 and 2-34, at an application rate of 320 g/ha, each show an activity of at least 80% against Abutilon theophrasti and Avena fatua. The compounds Nos. 2-32, 2-37, 2-39, 2-50, 2-51, 2-61, 2-69 and 2-83, at an application rate of 320 g/ha, each show an activity of at least 80% against Echinochloa crus galli and Veronica persica.

2. Post-Emergence Herbicidal Action Against Harmful Plants

Seeds of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed and crop plants are placed in sandy loam in wood-fiber pots, covered with soil and cultivated in a greenhouse under good growth conditions. 2 to 3 weeks after sowing, the test plants are treated at the one-leaf stage. The inventive compounds formulated in the form of wettable powders (WP) or as emulsion concentrates (EC) are then sprayed onto the green parts of the plants as an aqueous suspension or emulsion at a water application rate of 600 to 800 I/ha (converted) with addition of 0.2% wetting agent. After the test plants have been left to stand in the greenhouse under optimal growth conditions for about 3 weeks, the action of the formulations is assessed visually in comparison to untreated controls (herbicidal action in percent (%): 100% activity=the plants have died, 0% activity=like control plants). Here, the compounds Nos. 1-02, 1-03, 1-05, 1-06, 1-14, 1-15, 2-01, 2-02, 2-03, 2-04, 2-05, 2-06, 2-16, 2-17, 2-18, 2-19, 2-20, 2-21, 2-22, 2-23, 2-24, 2-25, 2-26, 2-27, 2-28, 2-29, 2-30, 2-31, 2-33, 2-34, 2-35, 2-39, 2-40, 2-41, 2-43, 2-44, 2-45, 2-46, 2-47, 2-48, 2-49, 2-50, 2-51, 2-52, 2-53, 2-60, 2-61, 2-62, 2-63, 2-64, 2-65, 2-69 and 2-83 each show, at an application rate of 80 g/ha, an activity of at least 80% against Abutilon theophrasti and Veronica persica. The compounds Nos. 1-14, 2-32, 2-42, 2-66, 2-67, 2-69 and 2-83, at an application rate of 80 g/ha, each show an activity of at least 80% against Amaranthus retroflexus and Stellaria media.

3. Comparative Tests

For comparative tests, the compound No. 1-15 according to the invention and the compounds No. 118 and No. 119 known from EP 0 049 071 A1 were tested by the post-emergence method at various dosages against a number of harmful plants. The ratings show that, in contrast to the compounds known from EP 0 049 071 A1, the compound according to the invention has high herbicidal activity against the harmful plants even at very low dosages.

Dosage Herbicidal action against Compound [g/ha] ABUTH PHBPU VERPE compound No. 1-15 according 80 90%  80%  80%  to the invention 20 90%  80%  80%  5 90%  80%  40%  Compound No. 118 known 80 0% 0% 0% from EP 0 049 071 A1 20 0% 0% 0% 5 0% 0% 0% Compound No. 119 known 80 0% 0% 0% from EP 0 049 071 A1 20 0% 0% 0% 5 0% 0% 0%

The abbreviations used denote:

ABUTH Abutilon theophrasti PHBPU Pharbitis purpureum

VERPE Veronica persica 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A 5-phenyl-substituted N-(tetrazol-5-yl)- and/or N-(triazol-5)arylcarboxamide of formula (I) and/or a salt thereof

in which A is CY, B is N, X is Me, NH2, NH(C═O)CF3, Cl, Br, I, OMe, or F, Y is SMe, SO2Me, SOMe, H, Me, OMe, CO2Me, NH2, NHEt, or NMe2, Z is H, SO2Me, F, SMe, SOMe, Cl, or CN, W is Me, F, Cl, or OMe, R is Me, Et, n-Pr, Pr, or C2H4OMe.
 2. A herbicidal composition comprising a herbicidally effective amount of at least one compound of the formula (I) and/or salt as claimed in claim 1 and a formulation assistant.
 3. The herbicidal composition as claimed in claim 2 in a mixture with formulation auxiliaries.
 4. A method for controlling an unwanted plant, comprising applying an effective amount of at least one compound of the formula (I) and/or salt as claimed in claim 1 to the plant and/or a site of the unwanted vegetation.
 5. A compound of the formula (I) and/or salt as claimed in claim 1 capable of being used for controlling unwanted plants.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the compound of formula (I) and/or salt controls one or more unwanted plants in a crop of a useful plant.
 7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the useful plant is a transgenic useful plant.
 8. A compound of formula I or a salt thereof as claimed in claim 1, wherein Y is SMe, SO2Me, or SOMe.
 9. A compound of formula I or a salt thereof as claimed in claim 1, wherein W is Me.
 10. A compound of formula I or a salt thereof as claimed in claim 1, wherein Z is H.
 11. A compound of formula I or a salt thereof as claimed in claim 1, wherein Z is SO2Me, SMe, or SOMe.
 12. A compound of formula I or a salt thereof as claimed in claim 1, wherein X is Cl, Br, I, or F. 